How can I speed up my computer?

@kykidd (6812)
United States
May 26, 2009 7:26pm CST
How can I speed up my computer? Lately my computer has seemed to have slowed down significantly. I have went to the start up in my programs and made sure there aren't any programs running at start up. I have also cleared my cache, deleted temp files, etc. I have also ran an antivirus program with no threats found. Does anyone have any ideas why my computer might have suddenly slowed down so much? Or any tests that I can run? Thanks for your help!
1 person likes this
4 responses
dUKe0912
@dUKe0912 (98)
• India
27 May 09
I find it's no use doing all those things when the damage has already been done. Just format your PC and start afresh. And yeah, keep it tuned up this time around !!
1 person likes this
kykidd
@kykidd (6812)
• United States
27 May 09
Well, I don't think it is that slow yet. If it completely locks up, or is just not doing anything at all, then I may have to back everything up and reformat everything from the master disks. But I hope it does not become that serious. Thanks for the help and ideas in this discussion dUKe! I hope you have a good evening!
kykidd
@kykidd (6812)
• United States
27 May 09
Thanks dUKe, ran a couple of programs from my PC Tools that came with my computer last night. I think I have it narrowed down to my Firefox browser now. The computer has 74 percent free space, so I don't think that memory is an issue. Besides browsers and a few pics, I really don't download that much stuff from the net. I guess I could go through my pics and delete the ones that are from articles that I am finished with. Thanks again for all of your ideas. I think I should probably run this registry cleaner, that is if it wasn't one of the things I did last night. (It was late, I was tired. :)
dUKe0912
@dUKe0912 (98)
• India
27 May 09
If you haven't already, try cleaning your registry. There are some freewares I recommend - CCleaner and Revo Uninstaller. Hope that was some help.
1 person likes this
Chiang_Mai_boy
@Chiang_Mai_boy (3882)
• Thailand
27 May 09
There are a lot of things that you can try. The most effective tool I have found is ccleaner but for some other idea check out this article from Computer World. http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9129351
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kykidd
@kykidd (6812)
• United States
27 May 09
Hi there Chiang_Mai_boy, and thanks for your ideas in this discussion. Today, for myLot, after trying with Firefox, I opened it up in my Opera browser. Wow, what a tremendous difference in speed. I wonder if I have issues with my Firefox browser. I also received an email back from ehow that maybe the problem I was having with their site was the pic was too large to upload. After running the defrag last night my system does seem to be a little faster. But I think they may issue is with Firefox. Maybe I'll delete my current version or see if they have a troubleshooting site. I would hate to lose my bookmarks.
kykidd
@kykidd (6812)
• United States
27 May 09
Oh yes friends, let me add this. I have noticed that if I hit the enter button it seems to do something. It's almost like the computer has fallen asleep and when I hit that button it makes it start loading the page. Any ideas on this?
jillhill
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
27 May 09
I was all ready to tell you to delete your temp files and cookies but I see you have already done that....it's strange it would slow down so much so quickly...hope you get if figured out...nothing worse then a slow computer!
1 person likes this
kykidd
@kykidd (6812)
• United States
27 May 09
Thanks for the idea jillhill, and thanks for responding in this discussion. Yep, that's the first thing that I do when it starts to slow down, and that usually works. One time, when it didn't work, I ran the antivirus and found a bug. This time I am stumped. I am no guru, but I like to consider myself computer literate. Thanks again, and have a good evening here on myLot!
Xarex
@xarex777 (467)
• Philippines
27 May 09
Try to defragment your hard drive.. And you should do it at least once a month to make sure that your hard disk performance is at optimal speed..
1 person likes this
kykidd
@kykidd (6812)
• United States
27 May 09
Hey there, xarex777. I had no idea that I should do this at least once a month. I think I have only done it once or twice in the five years that I have owned this computer. I am definitely going to do that tonight before I shut it down. Thanks so much for the tips everyone. Thanks for your response in this discussion, and have a good evening here on myLot!